This site is about the extraordinary geographical curiosity
that sits on top of the mountain Sorgschrofen near Jungholz, Austria.

Boundary crosses or "quadripoints"

National boundaries usually "meet" or fork in bounadry tripoints. A
tripoint is thus a point where the boundaries of three countries converge.
Although interesting, tripoints are not too rare; there are more than 40
of them in Europe. Points where four or more boundaries meet are much
harder to find. In fact, there is no point where the borders of five
countries meet. There is also no point where the borders of four countries
meet.

There exist, however, at least three points where four borders,
belonging to two countries meet. We call them bi-national
quadripoints, or, casually, boundary crosses.

One of these rare points is situated near the alpine village of
Jungholz. Jungholz in itself is an interesting area, in that it is part of
Austria, almost completely but not entirely, surrounded by Germany. The
Jungholz area is connected to the rest of Austria in one point only - the
boundary cross.

The existence of such artifacts as boundary crosses can give rise to
all sorts of philosophical and mathematical ponderings. For example, is
Jungholz really connected to the rest of Austria, the boundary cross being
a point and thus infinitely small? For the same reason, does Germany
completely surround Jungholz or not? Certainly, it is not possible to
travel from Austria to Jungholz through the point.

The second of the three known boundary crosses is at
Baarle-Hertog/Baarle-Nassau and involves Belgium and the Netherlands. The
third cross is in Cooch Behar in east India where a Bangladeshi exclave is
connected to the rest of Bangladesh in one point only.

The definition

The border between Germany (Freistaat Bayern)
and Austria (Land Tirol) in this patricular area was defined by the treaty
of 1844, which was complemented in 1850; "Grenzberichtigungsvertrag vom 30.
Jänner 1844, mit dem Ergänzungsvertrag vom 16. Dezember 1850".

Here are
facsimiles from the Consolidated Treaty Series, with the text of the treaty
of 1844 and the treaty of 1850.

In an appendix the entire border is described in words, from one border
stone to the next and so on. The critical part is where the border between
Austria and Germany reaches border marker number 110. The description of
this takes place on page 94 (to the right).

This would translate to:[From marker 109, the border follows] a
straight line, via 2 intermediary markers, to marker 110, which is cut into
the rock (looking west) on the highest peak of the Steinberg [now the
mountain Sorgschrofen].
Here the border of the Jungholz community forks off, which is
described in the appendix below.

[The border then follows] the steep ridge
to the highest peak of the Steinberg at marker 110.

So now we know the following

* The border of Jungholz begins and ends at marker 110.
* The border of Jungholz is connected to the rest of Austria at marker 110,
and only there.

Ergo, there exists a boundary cross at marker number 110.

The modern description

Here is a 1:50 000 topographic map
extracted from the web showing the entire Jungholz area.

Here is a copy of the
Bavarian cadastral mapping.

This is a facsimile from the
Austrian offical Boundary Description. Note the cute litte diagram
describing the conditions around marker 110.

Here is an excerpt
from the official border maps.

The expedition

For the good of all, a
group of brave men ventured to visit the boundary cross
to examine and document it. Here is a brief report of the expedition..

This is the way.

We are warned that we are entering Austrian
territory.

Grenzübergang at the bridge.

Can you see the small stream behind the trees?
That's where the border is.

At another road leading to Jungholz there is
this beautiful Tirol-rock.

At the center of Jungholz, outside the tourist
office, there is this bronze symbolic border marker.

The bordercross is on top of Sorgschrofen

On the way to the top this panorama over
Jungholz was taken.

The border follows the ridge north-east of the
peak. The hiking is fairly easy, at least in the warm season.

On the way we stop to admire border stone
number XXXVI. We are standing on the T side (Tirol). The letter on the other
side states B for Bavaria. The year 1844 is cut into the fourth side.

We have almost reached the top, and encounter a
different type of border marker. It is in the center right of the picture.

Here is a close-up. The metal plate, border
marker XXXVI/I is fastened onto the rock with concrete. Note the line
tracing the border, and the letters D for Deutchland and Ö for Österreich.
There is no year on this one.

And finally, the "hightest peak of the
Steinberg." The men looking down at Jungholz belong to another party, and
are totally unaware of the significance of the location. They came for the
view... Unbelieveable. The boundary cross is on the rock to the right.

Here we come a little closer, and marker 110 is
clearly visible on the rock to the right.

Here is the view that they came for. Not much
to see.

Whereas here, right behind us, is one of only
three boundary crosses in the world.

This is just to confirm, to those who concern
themselves with such matters, that the expedition to the Jungholz boundary
cross really constituted a class a visit. The index finger belongs to
the supreme commander of the expedition.